The Dickinson press., 1887-04-02
aUnpleasaut for all Of us.n said .rott

| gentleman, "if there really was soyereipn
in the purse" His intonation implied clearly
that he entertained doubt upon the matter.
"Oh, as to that I'm quito sure-"I said:
but the last speaker, who was now lust get
ting out, interrupted me:
II really don't think. sir, if you'll excuse
me, that you are in o condition to be quite
sure about anything"
\ 1t was most unfounded insinuation. and
should have liked to wither him with some
scathing letort, but I always require time to
think Of anything particularly whitening, and
by the time was ready with an appropriate
| reJoinder he was several yards off, 1t would
have been hardly dignified to shout it after
him, and l therefore remained silent. We
rode OH little farther, but it was an uncom-
Portable journey. An atmosphere of suspi-
cion pervaded the omnibus The passengers
all seemed mere or less to suspect each other,
but it was evident that they unanimously sus-
pected mo. little farther the omnibus
stopped, and the conductor put his head in:
"Waterloo stationl Anybody for Waterloo
stationl"
waterloo station!" exclaimed in horror.
"Isnt this Highgate 'bus!"
"Highgate." said the conductor. "Lor',
You must he farther gone than thought you
was"
Twas farther gone than thought was,
and in the wrong direction. Ipaid tho man
fourpcnce for having brought me three miles
out of my way, and having cautiously de-
scended made my way Through an ankle deep
pile of swept up mud, by the way) to tho
pavement. What was to he done now? There
were no more onmibuses, and after waiting
in the street for some two minutes or so and
hoi1t fxx.r, otr<
under the belief that they were four wheeled
cabs, succeeded in arresting a wandering
Jehu, and Struggled Through another heap Of
d. mud) to his cab.
Y NO. SS, Wisteria Terrace, Highgate," l
i. said as st in.
;, ;,sae ,s,si9, IN drove few yards, and then got
use .S'oe4 VI !9 came tD the window.
tae." .nos' a yer farding guv'nor,' he said,
~. ~ 'wheer was it as you was wishin' to
'a.a las maysh to;'
~ !. eoa9 Highgate, Wisteria Terrace, No. 3S," l
4 sail, reversing the order for greater clear
E,s,sa,.ss.
a "All right, guvnor, we can do it, me an
jny orse can; but it's mortal long way,
4 Tktnd we amt bin 'ome to our tea yet don't
deceive you, isuv'nor; it's worth seven-and-
SIX of anybodyS money to take you that dis
tance at this time o. night"
Very well, you shall have seven-and-six," !"
replied wearily. "But drive on, for heavens
sake, OF l shan't get homo tonight"
He drove on, and after three-quarters of
an hour or so succeeded, by dint of question
ing passing policemen for naturally could
not see to direct him. i'll bringing me to Wis
:eri;l Terrace, and set me down at No. SO.
You will have to wait while go i'll and
r.t you your money!" said, "for have not
knkoush in my purse"
lA(Right you are, guv'nor," he replied; "and
IL so be us you did happen to have drop O.
solnethin' short 'andy-not to deceive YOU,
aE'nor-it'd warm chaps cookies uncom-
n1n. It's cold work up there on tho box, an
it(is mortal long way, amt it now,
gH'nor!"
YOU shall have it" I-sad, glad to have
-earhet homeen sny terms. "Stcp inside if
you horse viii stand still, and I'll give it
,at 'orse stand saA!ai replied with a
ca lie. "Thats his best-pacc, that is. Lol',
g,lvI oi, you might ,,urncss that olse to a
c!ui 4, you might, an he wouldn't run away
Ey ais time had descended, and, groping
my ~ cautiously up the gravel path had
ea',y<l the front door. l took out my latch
key nd let myself in. 1t struck me that the
Socll sas somewhat stubborn, but it yielded,
and passed into the hail. followed bv nv
clla Ntcer. The gas was out and all was
darky ave where dim light, just darkness
viai5y indicated the position of the window
on th landing. l felt my way to the hall
| taple{ where on such occasions candle and
patcly were won't to be placed by my house
keepet but she Lad apparently forgotten
I,.f,, l | .,n1f Ill
my val TO the mantelpicce, on ono corner of
ishich tnere was usually Il provision of luc-
ftlS, i'ut again l was disappointed. There
v-ss nothing to be done but to find my way
|. tonmv own bedroom on the first floor, where
ol my liessing table always kept an ample
| sulpy accordingly, with nearly as much
precaDl,o as if were attempting the ascent
| 6f Mont blanc, began to mount the stairs
J Nrtecaclel as softly as could, for, being n
bachelor, only occupied part of the house,
.-ana l ,li.l not wish to disturb my neighbors
|. 7 don't know why boots should creak more
I after. midnight, but they certainly do. I
would moi have believed it possible that half
| q dozen ,lirs of boots, far less one could
have n,ale such an atrocious noise And the
stairs, to" seemed to have joined the
| conspiracy for they creaked and cracked
as if .t!e louso was coming down. When
| had preceded seven or eight steps in
this fas'io.. felt that as a man and Chris
| tian coul,. not So any further like that. l
must take ny boots OF. Accordingly, did
| take off one of them, which rewarded my
precauiion ~ falling down half dozen stairs
with al audible bump at each. 1 was more
successful with the other, and again resumed
my journey, holding on we'll to the handrail,
till reachc! the door OF my own room. Here
the geo, ,aply was more familiar, and was
! advancing With calm confidence to my dress
ing tab. whtn my head came in violent con.
tact with stme extremely hard substance.
Which nstnctiyely guessed to be bedpost.
| y i'ni;. voice said, in an alarmed tone: "Is
tlat yoi., Phipl' and baby began to cry
Justify. Now, my name is not Philip but
Augustus. sleep in French bcdstead, and
l Don't owa a baby. l am not an excitable
Iel.on. ard rather pride myself, under ortlin-
81" circumstances, on my GOODNESS and pres
er.. Of lniad; but such combination in nv
i.;,;onm as2 o'clock in the morning. accentu-
q by u severe blow on tho nose, was enough,
s.,,,rit, to upset the equilibrium of even the
=. :!est Of men. began to feel nervous-I
80, it. Obviously the first step toward clear.
i;!:s up toe matter was to get light, and,
co.lsequently, 1 made no reply, but still
t.toteu IA Luo I'LL oCLlOu OI LIE Dress
::s table, instantly there was cry from
lie same vo!'e:
Help. rhievesl Helpln followed by blast,
loa,l and long Of she most tremendous whist"
rever heard in mJ life. This was followed
by the sound Of violent scufae in the hall
beneath, ald then ONE one rushed violently
up the staiss and Ito the room, exclaiming:
"Where isiher Were is the villainr 1t
suddenly dlwned VI on me that was the vii
lain, and put myself into scientific posture
of self defeSse, but i, vain. A pair of long
arms, appa GENTLY swinging every way at
once, beat fown my guard, and after mo-
mentary ruggle frasped me firmly round
the should Is. n
@I've goe6n;m," 8 ,uted the proprietor of
the arms. -FISa, throw blanket over
his head whj nimn
There wa entary pause, and the
voice said in muffled expostulation:
Take care, my head you've got
hold Of" II t mistake Of identity,
however, wa corrected. A woolly